Van Ryckegem, G. & A . Aptroot (2001): A new Massarina and a new Wettsteinina (Ascomycota) from freshwater and tidal reeds. - Nova Hedwigia 73: 161-166.
Abstract: Two new ascomycete species growing on reed (Phragmites australis) culms are described and illustrated: Massarina fluviatilis sp. nov., from Belgium, on tidal reed, and Wettsteinina moniliformis sp. nov., from Denmark, on freshwater reed.
To understand fungal ecology and community structure, a firm knowledge of the systematics of the studied organisms is a prerogative. Existing useful and complete keys to access the taxonomical knowledge of the two genera discussed here are found in Aptroot (1998) for Massarina and in Shoemaker & Babcock (1987) for Wettsteinina. Fungi have received some attention in freshwater and tidal systems (Apinis et al. 1972 a & b, Taligoola et al. 1972, Poon & Hyde 1998 a & b) as crucial decomposers of an important emergent macrophyte (Phragmites australis (Cav.) Steud.). From reed, several species of Massarina have been reported: Massarina
aquatica J . Webster, M. arundinacea (Sowerby : Fr.) Leuchtmann, M. phragmiticola P o o n & K . D . H y d e , and M. thalassiae K o h l m . & V o l k m a n n - K o h l m . The genus Wettsteinina s. str. is not yet k n o w n to occur on reed. Wettsteinina niesslii E . M i i l l e r , o r i g i n a l l y d e s c r i b e d f r o m r e e d , w a s l e c t o t y p i f i e d a n d c l a s s i f i e d i n the Lophiostomataceae by Scheuer (1995), and also by Shoemaker & B a b c o c k (1987). It is not congeneric w i t h the type of Wettsteinina. O n l y one record of a Wettsteinina species in a freshwater habitat is c i ted i n the literature, as 'Wettsteinina sp. ' on Equisetum fluviatile (Magnes & Hafe l lner 1991, Shearer 1993). T h i s species had longer ascospores than the new species described below. K n o w l e d g e about the ecology of the genus is s t i l l scanty, but many Massarina species are k n o w n f r o m freshwater habitats ( H y d e & Aptroot 1998) and marine and/or t idal systems ( K o h l m e y e r & V o l k m a n n - K o h l m e y e r 1991, H y d e & Po in t ing 2000, K o h l m e y e r et a l . 1995, Poonyth et a l . 1999). Here we describe a new Massarina species f r o m a freshwater t idal system in B e l g i u m and a new Wettsteinina species f r o m a freshwater lake shore in Denmark .
Massarina fluviatilis Aptroot & Van R y c k e g e m , sp. nov. F igs 1-7
Ascomata 180-210 pm diam., 180-200 pm alta, subglobosa vel globosa, immersa, nigra, gregaria ostiolata, clypeo nigro praedita. Pseudoparaphyses numerosae, 3-4 pm latae, multiseptatae, non ramosae, non anastomosantes. Asci bitunicati, 69-82 x 18-23 pm, oblongi ad cylindrici, late rotundati ad apicem, stipite brevi. Ascosporae 24-31 x 7-10 pm, fusiformes, plerumque 2-septatae, tandem 3-septatae, septo primo submedio, ad septa constrictae, hyalinae, guttulatae; involucro gelatinoso circumdatae in aqua ad 5 pm dilatato, non constricto in medio.
A s c o m a t a 180-210 um d i a m . , 180-200 u m h igh , subglobose to globose, immersed, black, clustered in small groups or short rows , each w i t h a protruding, central, black, inconspicuous, smal l papillate ostiole; c lypeus black, o f dark b r o w n , 1-1.5 p m w i d e hyphae. P e r i d i u m 20-25 p m thick, composed of carbonaceous, t h i c k - w a l l e d , p o l y gonal cel ls , surrounded by hyal ine hyphae. Pseudoparaphyses numerous, 3-4 p m wide , septate at 7-8 u m intervals, not branched or anastomosing. A s c i bitunicate, 69-82 x 18-23 u m , ob long to c y l i n d r i c a l , broadly rounded at the apex, tapering to a short stipe, w i t h irregularly b i - or triseriate ascospores. Ascospores 24-31 x 7-10 u m , broadly f u s i f o r m w i t h rounded ends, usual ly 2-septate, b e c o m i n g 3-septate; first septum submedian, the second ce l l f r o m above s l ight ly s w o l l e n ; ascospores constricted at the septa, main ly the median septum, most ly hyal ine , b r o w n i n g w i t h age, w i t h many, smal l guttules, surrounded by a wide expanding muci laginous sheath, w h i c h is up to 5 p m thick and not constricted around the septa.
Host : Phragmites australis.
E c o l o g y : found in s l ight ly brackish t idal marsh, on dead leaf sheaths st i l l attached to standing, one-year-old reed stems, at a height o f approximately 1.5 m above the so i l surface.
Figs 1-7. Massarina fluviatilis, holotype. 1. Ascus. 2. Asci and hamathecium. 3-6. Ascospores with mucilaginous sheath. 7. Asci . A l l illustrations made in water mounts. Scale bars = 10 pm.
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Collection examined: Belgium, East-Flanders, Tielrode tidal marsh near river Schelde, IFBL coordinates: C4 52 41, 10/04/00, Van Ryckegem 509 (Holotype, GENT; isotype, CBS).
The new species seems quite close to the type of the genus, M. eburnea (Tul . & C . Tul . ) Sacc. (Aptroot 1998), f r o m w h i c h it differs m a i n l y by smaller ascospores and subglobose to globose (not flattened), immersed, gregarious ascomata. In a cladist ic analysis based on 18S nuclear r R N A ( L i e w et a l . 2000), some members of the genus Massarina in its current c i rcumscr ipt ion d i d not cluster in the same clade, suggesting a possible generic segregation, but M. fluviatilis is certainly congeneric w i t h the type of Massarina.
Wettsteinina moniliformis V a n R y c k e g e m & Aptroot , sp. nov. F igs 8-15
Ascomata 100-150 pm diam., 90-120 pm alta, globosa vel ovoidea, nigra, aggregata in usque 7 seriebus, in stromata immersa; ostiolum 35-40 pm altum, usque ad 60 pm diam., papillatum, nigrum. Stromata usque ad 350 pm alta, 2 cm longa, lenticularia, atra. Filamenta hamathecii numerosa, 4-6 pm lata, multiseptata, moniliformia, ramosa, guttulata. Asci bitunicati, fissitunicati, 61-66 x 13-16 pm, numerosi, fusiformes. Ascosporae 19-23 x 7-9 pm, fusiformes, 1-septatae, tandem 3-septatae, ad septum primum constrictae, hyalinae (postea fuscae), guttulatae, glabrae (postea verrucosae); involucro gelatinoso indistincto circumdatae.
A s c o m a t a 100-150 p m d i a m . , 90-120 p m h i g h , globose to o v o i d , aggregated into l inear rows , b lack, immersed i n basal stroma; ostioles 35-40 p m h i g h , and up to 60 i m w i d e , papil late , black. Stroma up to 350 p m thick and 2 c m long , lenticular, w i t h longi tudinal orientation on stems, black, w i t h up to 7 rows of ascocarps aggregated. P e r i d i u m 20-25 p m , textura angularis-prismatica, w i t h cells up to 5-10 p m d iam. H a m a t h e c i u m f i laments numerous , 4-6 p m w i d e , septate at 6-10 p m intervals , moni l i form, branching but not anastomosing, wi th some small guttules. A s c i bitunicate, endotunicat remaining intact after in i t ia l rupturing o f the exotunica , 61-66 x 13-16 p m , short-stipitate, numerous, broadly fus i form w i t h 8 b i - to triseriate over lapping ascospores. Ascospores 19-23 x 7-9 p m , broadly f u s i f o r m w i t h rounded ends, 1-septate, becoming 3-septate, constricted at the first septum, apical ce l l l itt le enlarged, h y a l i n e (later b e c o m i n g b r o w n ) , w i t h m a n y s m a l l guttules , smooth , w h e n o l d verrucose; sheath u n i f o r m , indistinct , s l ightly constricted at the septum, narrow.
Host : Phragmites australis.
E c o l o g y : on leaf sheaths of reed l y i n g on the bank of a freshwater lake.
Collection examined: Denmark, East-Jylland, Hald Ege at Niels Bugges Kro South of Viborg, U T M -coordinates: NH2149 or 0521 6249, 02/06/00, Van Ryckegem 561 (Holotype, GENT; isotype CBS).
Figs 8-15. Wettsteinina moniliformis, holotype. 8. Surface view of several stromata with individual ascomata. 9. Section through ascomata showing the structure of the ascomal wall. 10-11. Parts of hamathecium filaments. 12. Ascospore. 13. Ascus with protruding endotunica through partly ruptured exotunica. 14. Ascospores. 15. Ascus with hamathecium filament. 16. Hamathecium filaments. A l l illustrations made in water mounts. Scale bars in 8 = 5 mm; in 9-16 = 10 pm.
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The new species of Wettsteinina has among the smallest spores in the genus, but nevertheless shows all charcteristics of the genus, including the characteristic wide, moniliform hamathecial filaments.
Acknowledgements
Gunther Van Ryckegem would like to thank Prof. Dr A . Verbeken for correcting the Latin diagnoses and the Institute for the Promotion of Innovation by Science and Technology in Flanders, Belgium for financing the research with a research funds.
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Received 3 January 2001, accepted in revised form 26 January 2001.
